NCT06691711

Adult-caregiver Supported Positive Psychology Intervention to Increase Resilience: Work Package 2

Adult-caregiver Supported Positive Psychology Intervention to Increase Resilience (ASPIRE): Developing and Refining a Caregiver-delivered Positive Psychology Intervention to Increase the Resilience of Children Who Have Experienced Adversities - Work Package 2

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this feasibility study was to investigate a new intervention designed to help parents/carers of children aged 8-12 who have experienced adversities to build their child's resilience to mental health difficulties using a 'positive psychology' approach. The research questions concerned the acceptability, feasibility and safety of the intervention.

Detailed description

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic or stressful events before age 18 that have been linked to poor mental health across the life course. Resilience is the ability of an individual to maintain or return to a thriving state following adversity. As resilience is not a static trait, intervening to increase the resilience of children exposed to ACEs has the potential to decrease the risk of later mental health difficulties. Positive psychology interventions (i.e. interventions that aim to increase factors that have been identified as important to individual and community flourishing) have been shown to be effective in increasing resilience. However, there was not yet a positive psychology intervention designed to meet the needs of young people exposed to ACEs and their caregivers (parents/carers). Objectives: To investigate the acceptability, feasibility and safety of a co-produced caregiver-delivered positive psychology intervention to enhance the resilience to mental health difficulties of children who have experienced ACEs. Methods: The project was guided by a Stakeholder Research Team (SRT) comprising both adults and young people with relevant expertise-by-experience. The study was divided into two work packages. In work package 1, the researchers completed a component analysis of existing positive psychology interventions, and a qualitative study to understand the needs and preferences of young people, parents/carers and professionals. They then conducted a series of intervention development workshops to co-produce the intervention with the SRT, informed by the findings of the component analysis and qualitative study. In work package 2, the researchers carried out a waitlist-controlled feasibility study involving 12 families with a child aged 8-12 years who had experienced ACEs. Families were randomised to receive the intervention either immediately or after a 10-week waiting period and mixed methods data collected to enable us to assess the acceptability, feasibility and safety of the intervention.

Conditions

• Mental Health

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	ASPIRE support package	The ASPIRE support package has a modular structure with core modules that all participating families are encouraged to complete initially, followed by optional modules which the family is supported to select from according to their strengths and needs. Core modules provide psychoeducation for the caregiver and optional modules contain information on the selected positive psychology topic together with instructions for suggested activities to be completed by the caregiver with their child to implement evidence-based positive psychology strategies. All resources can be accessed both electronically via an online portal or via the printed resource pack. Each caregiver is supported through the programme by a trained practitioner who offers regular support sessions (up to 8 in total) to provide information, advice and encouragement. Support sessions can take place face-to-face, by video call or over the phone according to participant preference.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-01-31
• Primary completion: 2022-09-27
• Completion: 2022-09-30
• First posted: 2024-11-15
• Last updated: 2024-11-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom